Deforestation of Margalla Hills: FIA summons three CDA officials on Nov 25

Agency to probe for illegal activities, role of civic body’s officials

ISLAMABAD: Following directives from the Supreme Court, the Federal Investigation Agency has formally launched an enquiry into deforestation in the Margalla Hills National Park, summoning three senior officials of the civic body to appear before its investigators.

Three directors general of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have been told to appear before a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) investigation officer on November 25.

A source privy to the development told the Express News that a letter, signed by FIA Anti-Corruption Deputy Director Rana Naveed, has been written to CDA’s Member Administration which reads that the directors general of land, enforcement and environment are required to appear before an investigating officer of the agency for enquiry into the deforestation on the Margalla Hills.

The officials have been asked to appear together with all relevant records at the FIA Police Station.

The source said 39,000 acres of forest is supposed to be protected from deforestation and construction by the CDA.

The Supreme Court has tasked the FIA to look into the matter and fix responsibility in case deforesting is proved, the source said.

The FIA will look into whether any illegal or unmonitored human activities in the forested area have threatened the forest ecosystem. These activities include the felling of trees for sale or domestic consumption, human-induced fires to cut the land among other actions.

The investigation agency will also thrash out the role of CDA officials regarding illegal construction and deforestation. It will also probe whether CDA officials were involved in allowing crushing units to operate on the hills.

The source added that the park has immense ecological significance and is a protected area. It had been established in April 1980 by the federal government to preserve the natural landscape and natural biodiversity around the capital.

Moreover, people living in and around the park used to depend on its national resources for subsistence. However, in 1999, CDA acquired the entire park.

While people were barred from altering the forest or from constructing in it, some areas of the park continues to face deforestation along with misuse of other natural resources, creeping human settlement, overgrasing and erosion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2017.